The United States of America: A HistoryBook 4: Chapter XIII - England and America

AMERICA looked to England for sympathy when the rebellion
began. England had often reproached her, often admonished her, in regard to
the question of slavery. The war which threatened her existence was a war
waged by persons who desired to perpetuate slavery, and who feared the
growing Northern dislike to the institution. The North expected the
countenance of England in her time of trial. It was reasonable to expect
that the deep abhorrence of slavery which had long ruled in the mind of the
English people would suffice to decide that people against the effort to
establish a great independent slave-empire.

Most
unfortunately, that expectation was not wholly fulfilled. The working-men of
England perceived, as by intuition, the merits of the dispute, and gave
their sympathy unhesitatingly to the North. In the cotton-spinning districts
grievous suffering was endured, because the Northern ships shut in the
cotton of the South and deprived the mills of their accustomed supply. It
was often urged that the English Government should take measures to raise
the Northern blockade. Hunger persuades men to unwise and evil courses. But
hunger itself could never persuade the men of Lancashire to take any part
against the North. So genuine and so deep was their conviction that the
Northern cause was right.

But among the aristocratic and
middle classes of England it was different. Their sympathy was in large
measure given to the South. They were misled by certain newspapers, in which
they erringly trusted. They were misled by their admiration of a brave
people struggling against an enemy of overwhelming strength. They were
misled by an unworthy jealousy of the greatness of America. Thus unhappily
influenced, they gave their good wishes to the defenders of the
slave-system. The North felt deeply the unlooked-for repulse. An alienation
of feeling resulted which will not be completely effaced during the
life-time of the present generation.

A variety of
circumstances occurred which strengthened this feeling. A few weeks after
the fall of Fort Sumpter, England, having in view that there had been set up
in the South a new Government which was exercising the functions of a
Government, whether rightfully or otherwise, officially acknowledged the
undoubted fact, and recognized the South as a belligerent power. This the
North highly resented; asserting that the action of the South was merely a
rebellion, with which foreign countries had nothing to do. A few months
later the British mail steamer /rent was stopped by a rash American captain,
and two gentlemen, commissioners to England from time rebel Government, were
made prisoners. The captives were released, but the indignity offered to the
British flag awakened a strong sentiment of indignation which did not soon
pass away. Yet further, there was built in a Liverpool dockyard a steam-ship
which it was understood was destined to serve the Confederacy by destroying
the merchant shipping of the North. The American Ambassador requested the
British Government to detain the vessel. So hesitating was the action of
Government, that the vessel sailed before the order for her detention was
issued. For two years the Alabama scoured the seas, burning and sinking
American ships, and inflicting enormous loss upon American commerce. These
circumstances increased time bitter feeling whelm prevailed.

All good men, on both sides the Atlantic, earnestly desire that England and
America should be fast friends. It was possible for England, by bestowing
upon the North that sympathy which we now recognize to have been due, to
have bound the two countries to each other inalienably. Unhappily the
opportunity was missed, and a needless estrangement was caused. But this is
not destined to endure. England and America now understand each other as
they have never done before. The constant intercourse of their citizens is a
bond of union already so strong that no folly of Government could break it.
It may fairly be hoped that the irritations which arose during the war will
gradually pass away, to be succeeded by a permanent concord between the two
sections of the great Anglo-Saxon family.

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